text:
Colorado region one of seven globally to earn highest designation for mountain biking trails
The Roaring Fork Valley was designated a gold-level ride center by the International Mountain Bicycling Association
By Sarah Kuta, Special to The Denver Post Feb 6, 2020, 6:00 am
Mountain bikers Xan Demas, Victor Major and Pat Lynch ride on Sky Mountain Park in Aspen during an Aspen Ski Co bike photoshoot on May 31, 2018. (Matt Power, provided by Aspen Chamber)
You already knew the mountain bike trails in Colorado's Roaring Fork Valley were rad. Now, it's official.
The Roaring Fork Valley — home to Aspen, Snowmass Village, Basalt, Carbondale and Glenwood Springs — is Colorado's first gold-level ride center, the highest designation given by the International Mountain Bicycling Association to mountain biking regions around the world. The valley is one of just seven regions globally to earn the designation.
It's not just about awesome mountain biking trails, though the Roaring Fork Valley has plenty. (There are more than 300 miles of singletrack here, plus more than 85 miles of singletrack just outside the ride center boundaries and hundreds of miles of high-alpine doubletrack roads and paved paths.)
It's also about having different types of trails and difficulty levels, as well as amenities and attractions for time spent off the bike, including bars, restaurants, lodging, shops and other things to do. Bike shops, guides and instructors and bike rentals also factored into the designation.
In other words, it's a place worth planning a vacation around, no matter your mountain biking skill level or what types of trails you like to ride.
RELATED: Mountain biking trails near Denver for all skill levels
Colorado is also home to two silver-level ride centers: Steamboat Springs and Vail Valley.
"What it does for the community and for the entire Roaring Fork Valley, in a very shorthand way, is to describe the quality and the variety and the depth of mountain biking here," said Rose Abello, tourism director for Snowmass Tourism. "Just like when you say something is five-star, five-diamond, all those kinds of things. That shorthand says, 'Wow, that's really good.' "
A gold-level center has it all, "from backcountry adventures to lift-served gravity trails, from expert-only to family-friendly," according to IMBA, the Boulder-based nonprofit that's been working to improve mountain biking since 1988. These top-rated regions help break down some of the barriers to entry into the sport, help people improve their skills and generally broaden the demographic of mountain bikers by making it fun, accessible and challenging for all types of riders.
Looking for a challenge? Check out the 60-mile Aspen Snowmass Mega Loop, a difficult singletrack trail that gains 8,190 feet in elevation. Want more of a leisurely ride? Though the paved 42-mile Rio Grande Trail doesn't really require a mountain bike itself, it can take you from Aspen to Glenwood Springs (or vice versa), as well as connect you to other trails.
Many organizations worked together to achieve the designation, including the Roaring Fork Mountain Bike Association. Aspen Chamber Resort Association, Aspen Snowmass, Basalt Chamber of Commerce, Carbondale Chamber and Tourism Council, Snowmass Tourism and Visit Glenwood Springs, plus an array of local businesses, clubs, city and county government offices, land managers and volunteers.
A mountain biker takes in the view around Snowmass. (Provided by Snowmass Tourism)
Working toward the shared goal, the various groups built new trails and maintained and bolstered existing trails, all while balancing growth with sustainability and environmental preservation.
That collaboration and hard work helped propel the valley to the gold designation.
"While it's an important and valuable message for us to communicate externally to get people to come here, it's also a great source of pride internally within the valley," said Abello.
The region became an IMBA bronze-level ride center in 2014 and decided to keep working toward the gold designation, submitting a self-evaluation and supporting documents in 2018. Two IMBA employees visited the region last July to review the trails in person.
While the minimum mileage required for each trail type (traditional singletrack, bike-optimized and gravity bike trails) and difficulty level (beginner, intermediate and advanced) is pretty straightforward, the reviewers were there to evaluate a more subjective category: quality trail experience. In other words, how are the views? What's the ambiance like? Does a route connect to other trails? How is the signage? How easy is it to get to the trail? How well was the trail constructed?
In the end, Roaring Fork passed the test to join an elite group of mountain biking destinations.
"The palate and the nose these guys have for quality trails is pretty incredible," said Mike Pritchard, executive director of the Roaring Fork Mountain Bike Association. "They ask really nuanced questions that all lead to, 'This is a great trail. This is an awesome experience. This is a worthwhile destination to seek out.' "
A mountain biker checks out the view in Aspen. (Elle Logan, provided by Aspen Chamber)
Post tags: The Latest, The mountains, trails
Sarah Kuta, Contributor
Sarah Kuta is a Longmont-based writer and editor. She loves to travel, participate in book clubs, go thrifting and spend time with her Rhodesian Ridgeback, Daisy.
Last hit: A timely Denver Jewish Film Fest, Neal Cassady's birthday and more to do this in Denver this weekend Up next: Brian Regan, Michelle Wolf, "Mystery Science Theater 3000" and more comedy to see this month
Popular Rocky Mountain National Park trail through a boulder field reopens after reconstruction project
Hikers at popular Ice Lakes trail left behind feces, trash and damaged historic mining structures
Get to know West Highland


Doherty was a key contributor in the development of the Customs-Trade Partnerships Against Terrorism Program (C-TPAT) program. As the C-TPAT Acting Director in Washington, DC, Doherty was responsible for managing the C-TPAT program on a national level, coordinating the activities of seven field offices and more than 160 personnel.
Prior to serving as C-TPAT Acting Director, Doherty was the principal field manager for the C-TPAT program in the U.S. Customs Service's New York field office During his tenure, the New York office certified approximately 2,500 companies for C-TPAT and conducted approximately 5,000 (re)validations.
In his role as Advisory Services Executive, Doherty – together with BSI's proven methodology and tools – will utilize his extensive experience to help support improve companies Supply Chain Security Program(s), ensuring that they are ready for (re)validation and building a strong sustainable program.
BSI's Supply Chain Solutions group is a leading global provider of risk and compliance based solutions, supply chain intelligence, assessments, and training programs geared toward mitigating global supplier and supply chain exposures. BSI's experts work at the forefront partnering with industry and government on innovative supply chain security solutions and intelligence tools designed for cargo inspection targeting.
Helping companies achieve and maintain compliance, with a special focus on the C-TPAT 5-Step Risk Assessment, is a key focus of BSI's Supply Chain Solutions. Our combination of tools and field-based, global network of supply chain security assessment professionals provides our clients with expert supplier vetting and risk assessment.


The luxury goods market is getting close to the $300 billion mark.
Luxury lingerie makers are selling China on feel-good fashion.
China wants its shoppers to buy luxury goods at home, not abroad.
China's currency devaluation is the latest threat to many Western brands as Chinese consumers continue to push back on luxury spending.
Sales of luxury goods in China slowed last year. But a new report points to a growing class of wealthy Chinese, suggesting that high-end brands still have a lot of room for growth there.
The jeweler warned investors that the strong U.S. dollar would hurt its 2015 results even as it reported continued lackluster sales of its lower-priced jewelry.
CEO Fabrizio Freda tells Fortune why he's still bullish on Russia and China despite recent problems.


Creation's longest balance transfer deal is designed to help you clear card debt faster.
If you're looking to take a break from paying interest on an existing credit card debt, this deal from Creation offers an introductory rate of 0% for 20 months on balances that you transfer to Creation. Don't forget that you'll need to pay a fee of 3% (min. £3) to transfer the balance, which could get painful for larger sums.
You'll also enjoy 0% interest on purchases for 3 months, so if you're anticipating a large expenditure, you'll be able to spread the cost for a short period.
There's little in the way of perks or rewards to encourage you to choose this card over others. Realistically, there are longer balance transfer deals out there too, and if you're looking to transfer a larger sum, there are better transfer fee deals available. On the plus side, Creation does at least offer an eligibility checker, so you can find out whether you would have a good shot at approval, without affecting your credit score.


text:
Trump in the White House
By Bob Woodward
Read by Robert Petkoff
Unabridged Audio Download
Paperback Hardcover eBook
Rave and Reviews
THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER
THE OBSERVER BOOK OF THE YEAR
THE INSIDE STORY ON PRESIDENT TRUMP, AS ONLY BOB WOODWARD CAN TELL IT.
'Fear is a meticulously researched account of a White House and a president in financial, legal and personal disorder…essential reading…' Daily Mail
'I think you've always been fair.' — President Donald J. Trump, in a call to Bob Woodward, August 14, 2018
'The sheer weight of anecdotes depicts a man with no empathy and a pathological capacity for lying.' - The Financial Times
'Fuelling his narrative is an astonishing cast of rogues, ideologues, self-made millionaires and men in uniform who have spent the past two years in and out of Trump's administration.' - The Sunday Times
'Woodward's meticulous account of office intrigues, the president's men don't seem to be trembling with fright. What they mostly feel is contempt for Trump or pity for his ignorance and the "teenage logic" of his obsessively vented grievances.' - The Observer
'Horribly fascinating. Strongly recommended. If you can bear it.' Richard Dawkins
'To me the standout message from the book...is that the president is a bit clueless, a bit vain, a bit dangerous even; but his people are utterly at sea…' - Justin Webb, The Times
'He is the master and I'd trust him over politicians of either party any day of the week.' —Peter Baker, New York Times
'His work has been factually unassailable . . . In an age of 'alternative facts' and corrosive tweets about 'fake news,' Woodward is truth's gold standard.' - Jill Abramson, The Washington Post
'Fear depicts a White House awash in dysfunction, where the Lord of the Flies is the closest thing to an owner's manual.' The Guardian
'I wonder how many journalists have arrived in Washington over the years dreaming of becoming the next Bob Woodward . . . Though his books are often sensational, he is the opposite of sensationalist. He's diligent, rigorous, fastidious about the facts, and studiously ethical. There's something almost monastic about his method . . . He's Washington's chronicler in chief.' — Nick Bryant, BBC
'I've been on the receiving end of a Bob Woodward book. There were quotes in it I didn't like. But never once—never—did I think Woodward made it up. Anonymous sources have looser lips and may take liberties. But Woodward always plays is straight. Someone told it to him.' — Ari Fleisher, White House Press Secretary for George W. Bush
With authoritative reporting honed through eight presidencies from Nixon to Obama, author Bob Woodward reveals in unprecedented detail the harrowing life inside President Donald Trump's White House and precisely how he makes decisions on major foreign and domestic policies. Woodward draws from hundreds of hours of interviews with firsthand sources, meeting notes, personal diaries, files and documents. The focus is on the explosive debates and the decision-making in the Oval Office, the Situation Room, Air Force One and the White House residence.
Fear is the most intimate portrait of a sitting president ever published during the president's first years in office.
Lisa Berg
Bob Woodward is an associate editor at The Washington Post, where he has worked for forty-seven years. He has shared in two Pulitzer Prizes, first for the Post's coverage of the Watergate scandal with Carl Bernstein, and second in 2003 as the lead reporter for coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He has authored or coauthored eighteen books, all of which have been national nonfiction bestsellers. Twelve of those have been #1 national bestsellers.
About The Reader
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio UK (September 11, 2018)
Runtime: 12 hours and 19 minutes
Desperate for More Horror in between AHS: Apocalypse?
- Get Literary
Raves and Reviews
'In the worldwide capital of leaks and anonymous dishing that is Washington, secrets can be almost impossible to keep. But somehow over the past 19 months, the fact that America's most famous investigative journalist was quietly chipping away at a book that delves into the dysfunctions of President Trump's White House remained largely unknown.'
'Senior officials, acting as lone wolves concerned with preserving their own reputations, spoke to Woodward on their own — with some granting him hours of their time out of a fear of being the last person in the room to offer his or her viewpoint. As one former administration official put it: "He hooked somebody, and that put the fear of God in everyone else." Another former official added: "It's gonna be killer. Everyone talked with Woodward."'
'Donald Trump is about to get the Bob Woodward treatment.'
– CNN
'He has an extraordinary ability to get otherwise responsible adults to spill [their] guts to him . . . his ability to get people to talk about stuff they shouldn't be talking about is just extraordinary and may be unique.'
– Robert Gates, former director of the CIA and Secretary of Defense, on Woodward
'I think you've always been fair.'
– President Donald J. Trump, in a call to Bob Woodward, August 14, 2018
'The sheer weight of anecdotes depicts a man with no empathy and a pathological capacity for lying.'
– The Financial Times
'Fuelling his narrative is an astonishing cast of rogues, ideologues, self-made millionaires and men in uniform who have spent the past two years in and out of Trump's administration.'
– The Sunday Times
'In Woodward's meticulous account of office intrigues, the president's men don't seem to be trembling with fright. What they mostly feel is contempt for Trump or pity for his ignorance and the "teenage logic" of his obsessively vented grievances.'
– The Observer
'Horribly fascinating. Strongly recommended. If you can bear it.'
– Richard Dawkins
'To me the standout message from the book . . . is that the president is a bit clueless, a bit vain, a bit dangerous even; but his people are utterly at sea . . .'
– Justin Webb, The Times
'He is the master and I'd trust him over politicians of either party any day of the week.'
– Peter Baker, New York Times
'His work has been factually unassailable . . . In an age of "alternative facts" and corrosive tweets about "fake news", Woodward is truth's gold standard.'
– Jill Abramson, The Washington Post
'Fear depicts a White House awash in dysfunction, where the Lord of the Flies is the closest thing to an owner's manual.'
– The Guardian
'I wonder how many journalists have arrived in Washington over the years dreaming of becoming the next Bob Woodward . . . Though his books are often sensational, he is the opposite of sensationalist. He's diligent, rigorous, fastidious about the facts, and studiously ethical. There's something almost monastic about his method . . . He's Washington's chronicler in chief.'
– Nick Bryant, BBC
'I've been on the receiving end of a Bob Woodward book. There were quotes in it I didn't like. But never once – never – did I think Woodward made it up. Anonymous sources have looser lips and may take liberties. But Woodward always plays it straight. Someone told it to him.'
– Ari Fleisher, White House Press Secretary for George W. Bush
'As special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into the murky 2016 election that brought Trump to power moves towards a likely-to-be-sensational finale, Fear will help you discuss the inevitable crisis intelligibly.'
– Peter McKay, Daily Mail
Book Cover Image (jpg): Fear
Unabridged Audio Download 9781471181474
Author Photo (jpg): Bob Woodward
Get our latest book recommendations, author news, competitions, offers, and other information right to your inbox.
More books from this author: Bob Woodward
See more by Bob Woodward
More books from this reader: Robert Petkoff

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Syrinscape Now Integrated with D20Pro
Announcements Comments Off
With the growing popularity of RPG's utilizing a virtual table top, This is BIG news! I received this press release yesterday and pass it on to you now…
For additional information, contact Jenny Bendel.
SYRINSCAPE AND D20PRO ANNOUNCE NEW INTEGRATION FOR PLAYING ROLEPLAYING GAMES FASTER, BIGGER, AND ANYWHERE,NOW WITH SOUND
Award-Winning Syrinscape Sound App Now Compatible with D20PRO Virtual Tabletop
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (February 22, 2016) – Syrinscape, creator of the award-winning apps that put the power of custom, movie-like sound effects, soundscapes, music, and audio solutions at the fingertips of the gamer, and D20PRO, the Virtual Tabletop that takes roleplaying games from around the table to gamers around the world, are thrilled to announce today the two products are now compatible, creating a dynamic gaming experience for roleplaying gamers everywhere.*
D20PRO comes with the complete rules set for OGL 3.5, 4E and thePathfinder Roleplaying Game systems. However, the powerful tools ofD20PRO work for any game system that utilizes maps, combat on or off a grid, and even games that rely on "theater of the mind."
"Syrinscape has been one of our most requested integrations, and we are so pleased to make that a reality," says Tobias Drewry, CEO of Mesa Mundi. "Now game masters running a campaign with D20PRO can easily incorporate Syrinscape's incredible library of music and sound effects to set the perfect mood for their games."
With this integration, D20PRO Game Masters will be able to control Syrinscape remotely on the systems of their players. Game Masters will be able to embed objects within D20PRO that can be used to 'click' buttons inside Syrinscape, without needing to bring Syrinscape into focus, or having to navigate through any of its menus.
"Now every spell, every location, and every hideous monster roar is right at the finger tips of D20PRO Game Masters," says Syrinscape creator Benjamin Loomes. "And yes… most importantly, that includes the Wilhelm Scream!".
D20PRO has created real-time video with an introduction demo on how to incorporate Syrinscape into D20PRO games, using Syrinscape in 3rd-party mode, how to add sound triggers inside D20PRO, and how to configure virtual audio settings.
D20PRO Virtual Tabletop is available to try free with a 30-day Trial License to build campaigns, adventures, and encounters in no time. To start a free 30-day trial, visit, www.d20pro.com/getd20pro/.
The award-winning Syrinscape apps bring fantastic, realistic sound to tabletop gaming. Each is available to try for free, can be completely unlocked for free for 30 days at Syrinscape.com/freetrial, and includes 2 free SoundSets to keep after the trial. To download the free Board Game Player, Sci-Fi Player, or Syrinscape Fantasy Player, visit Syrinscape.com.
*At this time, Syrinscape integration is Windows only, with Mac OS and Linux integration coming soon.
About D20PRO
D20PRO is a Virtual Tabletop (VTT) that takes roleplaying games from around the table to gamers around the world. Experience all the elements of roleplaying while optimizing your play with the powerful D20PRO rules engine–speed up combat, roll a natural 20 on integrated dice, explore vast maps, and bring character sheets to life. No matter what kind of game you're running,D20PRO is the VTT desktop solution your gaming group needs. Campaign with players throughout the world, and you'll never miss game night again. Run smooth, accurate combat with D20PRO's suite of built-in tools ensuring that every bonus, feat, and twist of the rules is accounted for. D20PRO ©2016 Mesa Mundi, Inc. (www.mesamundi.com)
About Syrinscape
Using a powerful audio engine and complex algorithms to produce ever-changing soundscapes and rich encounter-specific music, Syrinscape conjures every aural landscape imaginable, from ethereal forests and stony shorelines, to dank, vermin-filled dungeons, to the spooky depths of the underdark. Designed by accomplished composer and tabletop gamer Benjamin Loomes, along with the developers at the Interaction Consortium, Syrinscape builds on more than 8 years of prototyping and community feedback. Syrinscape is based in Australia. Syrinscape is available for a wide range of devices, including PC, Mac, Android Tablets and phone, iPhones and iPads, and the players can be downloaded via syrinscape for free.
Tagged with: D&D, Immersion, news!, press release, RPG, settings
Backwards Compatible – Ep 3 – The World of Tomorrow
http://media.blubrry.com/carpegm/p/carpegm.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Episode-3-The-World-of-Tomorrow.mp3
Join Kyle, David, Aaron, and Penrod in this episode where we discuss the future of gaming; specifically where the industry is heading (for better or worse) and where we want to see it go.
But first Kyle remembers GiantBomb's Ryan Davis all the while leaving Penrod left for dead in XCOM, David and Aaron disagree and debate the quality of the new Deadpool game, and Penrod gives us the League of Legends hour. Plus! Did you know Minecraft now has horses? WOOT!
Break Music is:
"Markus" by Goto80
Tagged with: game reviews, Immersion, video games
Episode 23 – Character Death
The Carpe GM Gamecast Comments Off
http://media.blubrry.com/carpegm/p/carpegm.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Episode-23-Character-Death.mp3
Hosts - Dan, Mack, Steve, Bryan, Tyler
Topic - In this episode, the hosts explore the idea of character death, whether or not if it matters, and how it factors into our games, our game design, and what we do when it occurs.
Media -
RPG Circus | The Greatest Show In Gaming(Podcast)
NPC CAST | Your place for face to face games(Podcast)
Blizzard Entertainment:StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm
New 52 Batman – Batman News
RPPR Actual Play | Role Playing Public Radio
The Death and Return of Superman – YouTube (NSFW)
Notes - I've checked them out, and NPC Cast not only exists, they've got a really good podcast! Make sure to check them out!
The music for this episode is provided by:
Captain Carl's Tuesday Nite Blues Band
Find more from these wonderful musicians….
On ReverbNation
Tagged with: D&D, fantasy, gm advice, Immersion, player advice, RPG
GM's Toolkit: "Yes, And…"
orrynemrys, The Prismatic Dragon Comments Off
In the past year or so, a new sort of wisdom has emerged amidst the community of modern game masters. Drawn from the root philosophy of improvisational entertainment and arguably a life-altering perspective that could forever change your relationship with your friends, your environment, and ultimately your gag reflex, the "yes, and…" mechanic is an inspiring idealogy comprised of "can-do" conventions and clever altruisms, coated in a mild veneer of sly wit and much winking of the eye. Whether it can improve your knitting, your sex life, or your dry cleaning bill is a matter best left to wiser men than I… but it can certainly improve your game. Dangerously so, in fact.
Let's posit an appropriately fictional scenario. Your brave and oh-so-clever party of intrepid adventurers are making their way through an old dwarven stronghold that has now been overrun by filthy goblinses. Putting aside the ridiculous presumption that a small army of goblins could infiltrate a well-defended stronghold of heavily inebriated dwarven regulars, you watch as your heroes gracefully stumble upon a nest of feasting humanoids in what was once the banquet hall. As the two groups manage to both reel in stupefied alarm at the suddenness of the encounter, your players start casting about for ideas that can restore the balance of power to their effectively outnumbered adventuring party.
"Filthy goblinses!" John says, in his best Dwarvish brogue. "GM, sir… could I slide under the table and surprise them all by lifting it up and throwing it?"
"Of course," you reply blandly, "if you want to be stomped by six of the fiends on the way there."
"GM, sir," Sarah says. (Isn't is nice how they call you sir?) "Are there any torches I could grab off the wall?"
"Goblinses need no torches," you respond, offering Sarah a look of quiet sympathy. "They appear to have ripped all the sconces right off the wall."
"GM, sir!" Richard exclaims. "I'd like to step forward and loudly proclaim, 'You insolent fools! Do you realize what the Goblin King will say when he hears that you've been lounging about, drinking all the mead?! Stand up straight! Eyes forward! His Majesty approaches!"
You quirk an eyebrow. "Seriously…?" you exhale, reaching for your dice…
You may be thinking to yourself, "that's it, GM sir… teach those presumptious know-it-alls a lesson in humility." In which case, I'd like to kindly invite you to let each of your own brood take a turn GMing for you for a session or two and see how much you enjoy it. You might be surprised to learn that they've picked up a few of your more stingy and unforgiving traits. Not to say that the game can't be fun… but let consider an alternative approach.
"Of course!" you smile, "You slide past the lead goblinses before they even have a chance to pull up their wastebands and lock yourself into position for a mighty heave. You'll need to avoid the teeth of a snarling goblindog, then make a strength check to heave the oaken table."
"GM!" Sarah says, (forgetting the sir, but that's alright) "I grab a torch off the wall and light in the fireplace!" You nod assertively, pointing over to Richard.
Richard ponders a moment. "I got it!" he says, striking a defiant pose and setting his features in a visage of terrible wrath. 'You insolent fools! Do you realize what the Goblin King will say when he hears that you've been lounging about, drinking all the mead?! Stand up straight! Eyes forward! His Majesty approaches!"
You find yourself smiling along. "Make a bluff check," you say, watching as Richard rolls an 8 out onto the ricketty card table; not really much of a success, even against goblinses. You offer them a level look. "They are so befuddled by the sudden torchlight and your exclamation that they are caught completey off guard as the dining room table explodes into the air, iron trenchers and goblets of fine mead flying in every direction. They reach for their weapons, but they are obviously unclear how many opponents there are which way to leap…"
In the second scenario, you'll notice, you provided an empowering reaction to each of your players attempts at cleverness and heroism, without mitigating the challenges involved. Instead of feeling stumped at every turn and unable to do anything cool or interesting, the players felt energized and heroic, even in the face of poor die rolls. This is the "Yes, and…" philosophy at work. Rewarding your players for their engagement invests them in the scenario and makes it more fun to play. Believe it or not, a "Yes, and…" motif can even make tragic failures a powerful and engaging struggle for your players, and they will even accept character death or dishonor with a sense of dramatic panache. The key is to listen to what the players want and find a way to give it to them, adding a twist, condition, or challenge to the process. It's easier than it sounds.
There is a precipice, however, that much be watched carefully. Permissive GMs can create a sense of entitlement in their players over time. And too much entitlement can create an expectancy in the players that will have dramatic and unpleasant results when you don't give them what they want. It isn't necessary (or even a good idea) to "Yes, and…" every challenge the heroes encounter. The story may wrap itself around the main protagonists, but the world doesn't. Sometimes, there really are no torches on the walls. Or the goblinses just beheaded their king and offer only wicked smiles to Richard's proclamation. As long as that sense of empowerment is there enough of the time to make the players excited about each new challenge, they are easily resilient enough to accept that sometimes life just doesn't play by their rules.
You wanna walk along the precipice, not run over it to get away from murderous gamers.
Orryn Emrys, the Prismatic Dragon, is the director of the Prismatic Tsunami web community and the host of the popular Metagamers Anonymous RPG podcast. Learn more at http://www.prismatictsunami.com.
Tagged with: D&D, fantasy, gm advice, Immersion, RPG
A Letter to Metagamers Anonymous
Dan Whorl, The Nondenominational GM 1 Response »
Metagamers Anonymous is a young podcast that I discovered while sifting for gold on iTunes. Lo and behold! I found it. These guys, and girl, are knowledgeable, well spoken, and creative. Their bi-weekly podcast has become one that I find myself waiting for.
A little while ago, I wrote them an e-mail, I'm posting it here for all to see…
In previous episodes, you've brought up the concept of "organic
roleplaying,"and, indeed, this seems to be a key principle in your own game
play. While this is a valuable tool around the game table to be sure, I feel
that "organic roleplaying" tends to reward those on the player's side of the
screen more often than the GM.
Now, before you send me a "Dear listener, Please go [smurf] yourself" letter,
please allow me to explain.
Most of the time, players are experiencing the game world and all of it's events
through the eyes one character. This means that every bit of role-playing
energy that the player puts into the game is being used to define the emotions,
attitudes, actions, and reactions of one individual, as opposed to the GM, who
is responsible for what goes on in the heads, hearts, and hands of everyone else
in the game world. Because of this, it's more difficult for a GM to become as
deeply rooted in one character's persona than it is for the players.
So what then, does a GM get out of a game with "organic roleplayers?…"
…The opportunity to take advantage of another gaming concept…"dynamic
storytelling."
While a GM may be hard pressed to get down to the nuts and bolts
of every NPC's emotion and motivation, he can use every descriptive tool at his
disposal to create a vibrant and immersive world around the PCs. The GM's reward
for having good roleplayers is that he can tell a story and be confident that
his players will pull every but of excitement and fun out of any tale he tells.
It's my point of view that, the more believable and dynamic the world and it's
inhabitants, the more fulfilling the game.
That's the concept that's been bouncing around on the ping pong table of my mind
lately… player immersion. If immersion is the ball, then "dynamic
storytelling" and "organic roleplaying" are the paddles. It's been my
experience that, while player immersion is a simple thing to define, it is not always
an easy thing to execute.
So here is my purely hypothetical question:
Which is more important to achieving player immersion, organic roleplay, or dynamic storytelling?
Once again, great show! Looking forward to the discussion.
The on-air responses and discussion can be found on Metagamers Anonymous Episode #7.
With the exception of their divulging of a weird furniture fetish, admitting to using Facebook in a manner in which, I'm sure, Mark Zuckerburg never intended, and something about a gazebo, the discussion went pretty much as I expected. Some tug o' war occurred between the two sides, both with valid points. However, ultimately, I think they came to the same conclusion that I did….
RPGs take place, almost exclusively, through the cinematography of the minds eye. Therefore, a GM can "dynamically" tell a story until his lungs collapse, but, if he does not have receptive players, he may as well be reading them a grocery list. Conversely, a good organic player can allow his or her character take the wheel, steer, and role-play Tic-Tac-Toe if they set their mind to it.
But we're talking about immersive role-playing. Throw out the dice and rules, and you get down to the quick of what our hobby is about…
playing make believe.
In the imagination of a child, it's easy for a pencil to be a dragon-smiting holy sword, or a small patch of dirt in the backyard to transform into an arid wasteland that travelling heroes must cross to save the world. While a good GM can keep his players well stocked with pencils and dirt, he can't give his players the sight to see them for what they really are. Only the child inside can make full use of such valuable tools. Children are, hands down, the most immersive gamers, even if they aren't as refined and rules saavy. We were all there at one time. As role-players, most of us strive to reach, in our games, that point of full immersion we used to achieve so effortlessly as children. With that goal in mind, we've quantified every aspect of "make believe," and in turn, those rules and the fiddly bits of whatever system we may be playing, can keep some of us rooted in the world in which we exist, while the immersive gamer soars in the world that they imagine.
It seems to me that player immersion exists with or without dynamic storytelling and organic role-playing, these concepts just help us achieve it by giving our inner 9 year old more things to play with.
With that bit of conjecture, I must go. But, you can all rest easy tonight, as I have recently purchased a new pencil sword and, as soon as I don my beach towel cloak, I'm off to save the world…..again.
- The Nondenominational GM
[cc_facebook_like]
Tagged with: gm advice, Immersion, player advice, RPG
Episode 6 – You Have Been Immersed!
http://media.blubrry.com/carpegm/p/carpegm.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Episode-6-You-have-been-immersed1.mp3
Hosts – Dan, Bryan, Steve, Tyler, Mack, and a friend, Katelyn, joins us for some color commentary on this episode.
Topic - We discuss player immersion, and some ideas on ways to help achieve it from the GM's and player's perspective.
(1:00) What is immersion?
(3:00) Tips for the players
(15:39) "Meta"
(23:00) Tips and tricks for GMs
(43:30) A few of our own anecdotes on immersion
"What is the opposite of meta?"
Happy Jack's RPG Podcast
Notes- Please log on to the forum and let us know what you think. We'd love to see you there!
Fear the Boot Cameo!
Dan Whorl, Random Blatherings Comments Off
My step-son and I attended Fear the Con 5, hosted by Fear the Boot, which was a fantastic experience. We had not registered for any games but that community is one of the best in gaming, they made sure that we were involved in something entertaining during every block. I will delve into this experience a little deeper at a later date, however, I wanted to announce that their latest episode (Episode 266 – Vivid Storytelling) is posted. This episode was recorded live at the convention, and I was able make a comment on air about their topic…. Ok, so it's more like being a scene extra than a cameo, but I'm still stoked!
Episode 2 – Villains
The Carpe GM Gamecast 5 Responses »
http://media.blubrry.com/carpegm/p/carpegm.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Episode-2-Villains.mp3
Hosts – Dan, Bryan, Mack, Steve
Topic – A discussion about stereotypical villains and antagonists. We discuss what those stereotypes are, what makes a good villain, and ways to use them in your campaigns.
(1:24) A few villain stereotypes
(35:32) Our favorite antagonists that we've encountered as players
(43:46) Our favorite villains that we've ran as GMs
(53:41) Our favorite villains of any medium
Vladimir Propp
DC Universe RPG (Wikipedia)
Resident Evil (1996)(Wikipedia)
The Killing Joke (Wikipedia)
Bio Shock (Wikipedia)
Silent Hill (Wikipedia)


The Carnegie Mellon School of Computer Science has announced that all accepted undergraduates starting in fall 2017 will be capable to opt for amongst the computational biology main and the existing personal computer science important. No more than eight credit hours in a semester or 12 credit hours in total from off-campus study applications might be counted toward the key requirements. The majority of computational biologists, like other varieties of biological scientists, perform full-time, frequent schedules. Broadly speaking, computational biology is the application of pc science, statistics, and mathematics to issues in biology. Under are overviews and detailed sections about two attainable profession possibilities for computational biology majors. Applications offered by Ashford and listed under may perhaps not be related to the topic covered by the above report.
As an undergraduate, you could be eligible for graduate courses if you qualify, such as Topics in Computational and Systems Biology, where you will discover the newest publications in the field. When they are biologists, computational scientists work primarily with the findings of analysis and spend a lot of their time with computer systems in an workplace or laboratory setting. Because computational biology is still a somewhat new field, there are various educational paths.
Thirty-two hours of course function in biology (excluding Sophisticated Placement credit), like Biology 163, 164, 279, 367 (with laboratory), 368 (with laboratory), 378, and one particular course with laboratory in field biology (Biology 211, 237, 259, 263, 334, Environmental Studies 271, 358j). This major prepares students for graduate studies in locations which includes applied mathematics, bioinformatics, computational biology, mathematical biology, and diverse regions of biology, as properly as employment in business. Its spectacular atrium plays host to several events, from sector showcases and student hackathons to key analysis conferences.
Analyzing substantial quantities of information for analysis in regions such as genomics and epidemiology is a attainable application of computational biology in this career path. The concentrate in the computational biology location is to develop computational techniques to shop, analyse and model a wide variety of biological data (from protein measurements to insect behavioural data). In some universities computational biology classes are taught as element of degree applications or investigation projects in biology, medicine or computer system science.
Undergraduates at Cornell who want to focus on computational biology can do so through the Statistical Genomics concentration in the Biometry big, the Computational Biology concentration in the Biology main, or the Mathematical Biology concentration in the Mathematics major. In order to be nicely-informed about the latest in the field, specialists should really take into consideration joining the International Society for Computational Biology.
Computational biologists are generally workers of pharmaceutical businesses, universities and government agencies. The University of Pennsylvania's Bachelor of Applied Science degree in computational biology is supplied through the school's Personal computer Information and facts Science department with a blend of biology, statistics and computer science needs. Careers in academia usually require a graduate degree in computational biology.


text:
TFSVGD 77.2
After Jiang Liangchan finished releasing the signal black cylinder, she drew back her hand to the carriage.
She just sat down confidently and found the girl across her was looking at her feet, with a bit of panic on her face.
She looked down.
The big mummified dumpling on the ground woke up.
And was staring dead at the nearest person, Jiang Liangchan, with obvious ferocity in his eyes.
Jiang Liangchan released a scream: "Ahhhh… he woke up, what should we do, the assassin woke up and his eyes are staring at me ahhhhh!!!!!! This is terrible I'm going to die !!!!!"
Jiang Yunting and the young girl watched as she screamed while stamping her feet, and because of the panic and how fast and heavy her countless stamps were, the man on her feet was once again knocked out.
Jiang Liangchan breathed a sigh of relief: "God, I was scared to death just now."
Jiang Yunting: "…"
The girl: "…."
Right, everyone was scared to death.
Not long after, there was very slight rattling outside the carriage, like a bird passing by from outside.
Jiang Liangchan thought it was Chen Fang coming so she just got up to greet him when an arrow broke through the air and penetrated the carriage, sticking in the seat she just sat on.
If she hadn't gotten up just in time, the arrow would have been stuck in her.
Jiang Yunting was the first to react, fiercely pulling her towards his back.
Immediately after the second arrow also broke through the air, and stuck in the middle, just on the thigh of the killer on the ground.
Jiang Liangchan understood at this moment.
This must be the crown prince's people coming after them.
She thought it was safe before it seems that she was naïve to be thinking like this. It was no surprise that Chen Fang couldn't find the person, the crown prince people wouldn't even let them go so easily.
The two killers just now were probably the backup of the first group that was tasked to assassinate.
The girl across her also understood this.
One after another, the arrows stuck into the carriage.
At such times, Jiang Liangchan's mind was clearer than ever.
The first thing she did was cover the girl's mouth across the room to keep her from screaming out.
The carriage was sealed and those who were shooting arrows from outside could not see their position, they could only hear the sound.
If someone makes a sound, they would undoubtedly reveal their position.
Jiang Yunting also reacted extremely quickly and pointed to the bottom of the seat, where they could take cover from the arrow.
Jiang Liangchan and the girl immediately lay prone under the seat together.
Yet there was only a brief period of safety.
They hadn't been down long when the arrows outside suddenly stopped.
Jiang Liangchan's heart relaxes but immediately tightened as she realized something.
She's afraid that these people simply give up on shooting arrows and was preparing for a direct attack.
She was still muttering about Chen Fang's little black tube, but what was the use of that little spark in a broad daylight. She just hopes that Chen Fang could really notice it
Jiang Yunting also had a grave expression as he squeezed the sword in his hand.
Fortunately, he brought his weapon today when to see visit the arena.
But he clearly knows his strength, and today would definitely be a tough battle.
He was afraid that he may not be able to win even if he fights with his life on the line.
Suddenly, the girl behind her screamed.
A knife came up from under the carriage and penetrated straight through the chest of the assassin who was wrapped in a dumpling on the floor.
With Jiang Yunting's quick response he raised his sword and slashed under the carriage.
But there was no one under the carriage, the people were gone.
There was a moment of silence outside the carriage.
The three people in the carriage, however, were even more nervous, not daring to breathe.
Jiang Yunting tightly gripped the sword in his hand.
Suddenly, the top of the carriage was slashed down by a sword, which made Jiang Yunting extremely alert and blocked the sword with a backhand sword. He immediately let go of the momentum and suddenly slashed straight up with his sword. There was a piercing sound and muffled groan coming from the top of the carriage.
Jiang Yunting jumped to chase out the people outside, and immediately heard sounds of clashing swords.
Jiang Liangchan was also very quick and immediately lifted the man on the floor and placed him in the middle of the carriage seat, forming a barrier. She then pulled the girl with her and squatted under it.
She silently counted the number of possible killers outside. At the thought of Jiang Yunting fighting so many killers alone, she knew that she would only be a burden if she goes out. But she was also burning with anxiety.
Outside, the fight suddenly fell into silence.
Jiang Liangchan's heart shivered at the thought of the most unthinkable possibility.
She got up haughtily, felt a dagger from the tied-up man, clutched it tightly, and pushed open the carriage door.
Crap, since she doesn't know martial arts she doesn't know what to do.
Then she could only die just like her brother.
She pushed open the carriage door and was stunned.
Chen Fang was standing right in front of the carriage, with his back facing her.
Most of the killers around Jiang Yunting were hit by arrows and fell to the ground.
Hearing what was happening behind him, Chen Fang didn't look back. He drew a sword from the nearest killer who fell to the ground and said.
"Go back to the carriage. What are you doing?"
Chen Fang is here.
She's saved.
Jiang Liangchan hid back in the carriage and open a small gap to peek outside, and saw that Chen Fang quickly controlled the situation.
Jiang Yunting seemed to be exhausted but tried his best to cooperate.
In no time, Chen Fang and Jiang Yunting returned to the carriage.
The coachman had already died, and the carriage was already damaged.
Chen Fang just came in to have a look when he saw the cut by a sword under the carriage and the damaged ceiling. He also saw the killer who was tied up in the carriage, frowning he said.
"You are so careless. Why did you put the killer inside the carriage?"
Jiang Yunting: "It's okay, he woke up once and was stomped out again by my sister."
Chen Fang glanced at Jiang Liangchan for a while, then tore the bloody logo from the killer and put it into his sleeve.
The carriage was no longer useable so, Chen Fang decided that the four of them should ride out of the place first.
Chen Fang rode to a horse coming here, and there was one available horse from the carriage. They pair up and take each horse so he quickly assigned who would ride who.
Jiang Yunting also felt that they couldn't stay here any longer, and now that the carriage was too damaged it would certainly attract attention.
But there was one thing he was unsure of.
Why would Chen Fang and Jiang Liangchan ride on the same horse, while he and that blind girl would ride a horse together?
He protested: "of course, I'm going to ride the horse with my sister. Since this girl has something to do with you, take her with you."
Jiang Liangchan thought so too.
The siblings looked at him together as a matter of course.
The corners of Chen Fang's mouth curved and said in a humane manner.
"Your sister is too heavy. Your old horse can't carry her."
Jiang Liangchan feels that this was an unsolved mystery.
He looked like an unknown entity dressed in human.
Was that why he doesn't talk like a human?
Given that everyone depends on Chen Fang to save their lives, he now has the right to decide
Qi was not as important as integrity and integrity was not as important as living.
Jiang Liangchan endured the humiliation and got on the horse.
Jiang Yunting also endured the confusion and got on the horse.
For some unknown reason, Jiang Liangchan was now sitting on the horse with Chen Fang behind her. His warm breath seemed to hit her ear, making her always feel itchy and numb.
Probably for the convenience of controlling the horse, he wrapped his arms around her, vaguely forming a posture of encircling her and letting her lean on his body when she moved.
Chen Fang has an excellent figure, wide shoulders, and pectoral muscles but when Jiang Liangchan accidentally leaned on his body because of a bumpy ride, she felt uncomfortable.
And whenever she leaned on Chen Fang's body, he stiffened.
Jiang Liangchan understands.
A lone man and a woman riding on a horse were a bit embarrassing.
She was the same.
Jiang Liangchan leaned forward and said.
"So riding a horse feels like this, this is the first time I ride a horse, and I don't know how to sit still."
Hoping that Chen Fang could understand the meaning behind her words. This was the first time she rode a horse so she couldn't sit still, her body would sway on its own and accidentally bump into him. It really wasn't intentional.
Chen Fang's voice was a little low for some reason, and he said in a short reply, "Hmm."
Jiang Liangchan scratched her head as if she was still a bit embarrassed.
She thought about it and finally came up with a good idea.
Wasn't her position right now the same as when she sat on the beam in front of her father's bicycle when she was a child?
En, behind me is my father's love like a mountain that surrounds me.
This method works well.
The author has something to say: Father's (husband's) love is like a mountain that surrounds you.
TL: as promised posted the second half~
The Flirtatious Scheme of the Vicious General's Daughter


Need some help please! I woke up one morning recently to find my iMac was dead to any input. It was working fine the night before, I didn't shut down and just let it go to sleep on it's own. There is zero response when the power button is pressed, no boot chime, no screen response, no fans/hard drives spin… nothing.
I assume the LED that is lit up must be LED 1? ( indicating that trickle voltage from the power supply has been detected by the logic board).
Does this mean that it's most likely a logic board fail? why would the logic board suddenly fail overnight when iMac was sleeping?
I have exactly the same problem; changed the power supply, but nothing.
Where can I find the diagnostic LEDs? So that I could have a check?
The lights are to the right of the RAM slots on the logic board.
I had exactly the same scenario listed above. A dead iMac, unresponsive to the on/off switch. Switched out all the cables etc with no fix.
I can confirm that removing the Ram boards (easy to do - just unscrew the bottom compartment) - pulled them all out - put them all back in - and hey presto - it worked.
I did that already, and it had no effect.
Check the source of where that power supply came from. Sounds bad to me.
The "suddenly won't turn on" thing happened 2 times before throughout the years (I have it since late 2009...), so every time service would't find anything better than replacing the motherboard - which is f***ing expensive.
So I tried this time what @rudenator suggested, and YES !
In detail, all 4 memory slots were taken. Since some time, I had a doubt about it, as system diagnosis showed up only two ram in place. But so far the iMac worked fine, and I omitted to check physically if I was crazy or if the 2 ram had disappeared somehow.
In reality, the two "missing" memory bars seemed to be broken, and yes, they were still in place, they simply didn't show up. These two were in the BOTTOM emplacement. I took them out, as I guessed they were defective since a while.
Next I tried the two remaining individually in the TOP emplacement (relative to the screen which is top). This, because after Apple a single ram can work in the TOP place, but not in the bottom, at least for this model.
THE iMAC REBOOTED with one of them !
Next, I checked them all individually, and in fact even one of the former bottom ram still worked. YES.
I explain myself what happened, by the fact that if you pair a working with a non- working ram diagnosis thinks they are broken both, so if they are in bottom the machine don't shows them, and in top the machine won't boot.
I dont know, but maybe this trying saved me from a new motherboard...(which I wouldn't have paid, as the iMac is 8 years old now), but at least it saved me from buying new ram.
Found this thread troubleshooting a similar problem. iMac would not turn on one day. Power Supply is providing voltage to the logic board - LED 1 is lit (very difficult to see on the very first 2009 21.5 iMac model but I get voltage at pins 1 and 4 on the logic board). After reading this thread I pulled the RAM (as a side not this iMac and the RAM compartment were very dusty and full of fuzz which I blew out after pulling the RAM). The iMac did power on although there was no chime and no error beeps (note that the display was not installed). Just fans on high. I turned it off and turned it back on several times and got the same result each time. When I tried reinstalling the RAM one by one I would get nothing. Thinking the RAM or slots were bad I tried once more to power the machine with no RAM and I am back to a no power situation again. I have not checked the PRAM battery - for some reason Apple put it on the back side of the logic board which means a complete disassembly just to check it. Or, does anyone know any way to check the PRAM voltage without exposing the actual battery? Are the pins accessible from the front? Anyone with any other ideas - I'm all ears.


text:
2,5D (duas dimensões e meia), também chamado de pseudo-3D, é um termo informal usado para descrever fenômenos visuais que aparentam ser tridimensionais mas, por alguma razão, não o são completamente muito usado em jogos eletrônicos com visão isométrica, seja por não serem constituídos por entidades verdadeiramente tridimensionais, como nos casos de gráficos, ou por não permitirem um movimento completamente 3D — geralmente restrigindo-o a duas dimensões —, como no caso dos jogos eletrônicos. O conceito não é relacionado às ideias matemáticas modernas da dimensão não-inteira.

Quando o termo é aplicado com computação gráfica, ele se refere a um sistema de computador usando gráficos 2D para simular visualmente gráficos 3D. Um método para tal é quando uma imagem dimensional possui um canal de "profundidade" ou Z-buffer que pode agir como um mapa de altura, por exemplo. O termo é também usado para descrever cenas 3D que foram elaboradas completa ou parcialmente de um grupo de imagens bidimensionais.

Embora o termo seja bastante restrito à computação gráfica, em especial nos videogames, ele também tem sido usado para descrever percepções visuais, especialmente em estereoscopia, que pode ser considerada 2.5D porque o ambiente tridimensional do observador é projetado nos planos dimensionais das retinas, que, mesmo bidimensionais, ainda permitem percepção de profundidade.

Exemplos de jogos eletrônicos que utilizam este tipo de gráfico incluem Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, Pandemonium, Klonoa: Door to Phantomile, Nights into Dreams..., Viewtiful Joe, Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, New Super Mario Bros, Wario World, Yoshi's Story,Tomba!, Street Fighter IV, Sonic Rivals, Ragnarök Online e Danganronpa.

Ver também
 Jogo eletrônico baseado em ladrilho
 Cel shading
 Relevo (escultura)
 Trompe-l'oeil

Ligações externas

Desenvolvimento de jogos eletrônicos

Óptica geométrica

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


D & J Blinds, Manufacture of other office and shop furniture, listed under "Manufacture Of Other Office And Shop Furniture" category, is located at 47 Moss Drive Sutton Coldfield West Midlands, B72 1JQ, United Kingdom and can be reached by (01216) 862314 phone number. D & J Blinds has currently 0 reviews.
Browse all Manufacture Of Other Office And Shop Furniture in Sutton Coldfield West Midlands.


text:
iTypeJob
Gowanus Expressway, New York
By itypejob | December 15, 2022
Get started Verrazano Narrows Bridge
End Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel
Length 6 mi
Length 9 km
Verrazzano Narrows Bridge
17 Belt Parkway → JFK Airport
17 92nd Street
18 Fort Hamilton Parkway
21 3rd Avenue
22 Belt Parkway
24 Prospect Expressway
26 → Manhattan
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
According to allcitycodes, the Gowanus Expressway is part of Interstate 278 in New York. The highway runs through Brooklyn on Long Island. The road begins at the end of the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge and runs to the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel. The highway is 9 kilometers long.
At the end of the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge connecting Staten Island to Brooklyn, the Gowanus Expressway begins. One then crosses the Belt Parkway, but due to the difference in height from the bridge there is no direct junction with it, but one has to return to the Belt Parkway from the south with left-wing exits. The highway then has 2×3 lanes and is sunken. It crosses several roads in the Fort Hamilton, Dyker Heights and Bay Ridge neighborhoods. A few miles away ends the Shore Parkway, part of the Belt Parkwaydirectly on the Gowanus Expressway. The Gowanus Expressway then runs elevated 2×3 lanes through Brooklyn. 3rd Avenue runs under the highway. Due to the difference in height, there is only one incomplete turn. The Prospect Expressway begins in the Park Slope neighborhood and enters Brooklyn Short Highway. The road then has 2×4 narrowed lanes and still runs elevated, right next to buildings. The Gowanus Expressway then terminates at the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, continuing north, while the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel ( I-478 ) continues straight to the southern tip of Manhattan.
First instance
Construction began on the Gowanus Parkway in 1939 under the supervision of Robert Moses, raised on the pillars of an old railroad track above 3rd Avenue. Because the Gowanus was built on top of an existing structure, Moses needed little effort to get the plans approved. However, the Gowanus Parkway was wider by four lanes than the old railroad, and along 3rd Avenue, the necessary homes and businesses had to be demolished to allow for the highway and connections. The elevated section above 3rd Avenue was completed on October 1, 1941. When the highway was opened it was part of the Belt Parkwayaround Brooklyn and Queens. At the time, a drawbridge also existed over the Gowanus Canal, a narrow canal in Red Hook. In 1950, the New York City Board of Estimate approved a high, six-lane viaduct over the canal to replace the drawbridge. In 1955, the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority and the Federal Bureau of Public Roads recommended widening the four-lane Gowanus Parkway to six lanes and opening the highway to freight traffic, for a future Interstate Highway. The Parkway was also to become an Expressway, connecting to the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge to Staten Island.
For the widening, another 200 buildings along 3rd Avenue had to be demolished, and a number of connections were also removed to allow the widening from 4 to 6 lanes. A little further south, the extension to the Belt Parkway opened at the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. The original plans for this section included 4×3 lanes connecting to the never-built Cross-Brooklyn Expressway. However, there were major protests from residents in Bay Ridge, which the highway was supposed to run through, and the plans were reduced from 12 lanes to 6 lanes. Plus minus 800 buildings had to be demolished and 7,000 residents relocated for the construction of this section of the Gowanus Expressway and the embankments of the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge.
The widening of the Gowanus Expressway and construction of the section through Bay Ridge was completed in 1964 at a cost of $100 million. Despite the modification, the Gowanus was clearly pre-Interstate Highway era and did not meet Interstate Highway design requirements. There is a lack of emergency lanes, tight entrances and exits, poor visibility and sharp bends.
Later developments
The condition of the elevated section of the Gowanus Expressway deteriorated rapidly, the intensities were higher than calculated and the proportion of freight traffic to Long Island was high. In the 1990s, 175,000 vehicles drove daily on the Gowanus Expressway, prompting the New York State Department of Transportation to implement HOV lanes on the Gowanus. The HOV lane runs between the Belt Parkway and the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel and has been a success so far, especially the use of buses allowed the Gowanus Expressway to carry more people. The average occupancy of the HOV lanes was 9.1 people, which means that buses use them a lot.
Between 2005 and 2016, the bridge deck of the elevated section on viaducts was replaced over a length of 10 kilometers. The work was carried out in five phases and was completed on 18 February 2016. This is called a 'temporary measure' that could extend the life of the highway by 15 to 20 years until a definition solution such as a tunnel is ready. The renovation cost $246 million. During the renovation, the HOV lane from the 1990s was transformed into a fully-fledged alternating lane with jersey barriers.
The condition of the current elevated highway is poor, and requires continuous repairs. The bridge deck was replaced between 2005 and 2016. The New York State Department of Transportation plans to renew or completely replace the Gowanus Expressway. There is also a tunnel alternative to improve urbanity and improve the quality of life in the neighborhoods through which the highway now runs. The tunnel alternative includes 6 kilometers of new tunnel, just west of the current Gowanus Expressway. Connections and the interchange with the Prospect Expressway will take place underground. The number of lanes will probably not be expanded, so it will not solve traffic jams. This is especially a problem because the connectingVerrazano Narrows Bridge can handle much more traffic with 2×6 lanes than a 2×3 lane tunnel. In addition, the Gowanus Expressway is a crucial link between other highways in the area.
Traffic intensities
The Verrazano Narrows Bridge handles 195,000 vehicles per day. The Gowanus Expressway itself is somewhat less crowded, with 104,000 at Fort Hamilton to 134,000 for the Prospect Expressway. The stretch between the Prospect Expressway and I-478 counts 170,000 vehicles per day. The Gowanus Expressway therefore experiences quite a bit of traffic congestion during the day.
Exit Location 2008
16 Belt Parkway 190,000
17 92nd Street 190,000
18 Fort Hamilton Parkway 100,000
20 65th Street 110,000
21 3rd Avenue 125,000
24 Prospect Expressway 133,000
26 Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel 168,000
Barclays Center, New York
Cross County Parkway, New York
Tour New York: the Empire State
New York Economy
New Zealand Market Opportunities
New Zealand Travel and Visa
New Zealand Tourism and Development
Papua New Guinea Attractions
Category: North America Tags: New York, United States
← Washington DC – American Capital Port Said, Egypt →


My First Trip to IKEA!
You are here: Home / Lifestyle / Window Shopping / My First Trip to IKEA!
IKEA is the kind of place that everyone's heard of. Especially in the DIY/Pinterest community, you cannot avoid mention of this Swedish warehouse promising affordable furniture in huge variety and tiny packages.
Unfortunately, being raised outside of Raleigh and having lived ever since in Charleston, our paths have never crossed- until now.
Last weekend, Sean and I traveled to Charlotte to celebrate his father's (belated) birthday. Upon agreeing to a weekend of somebody-else's-family fun, my attendance was contingent upon one thing- IKEA.
Sean had also never been to IKEA (you'll be hearing about his experience very soon), but he was, as always, willing to give it a try. So, Saturday morning we made the half hour trek thru the more questionable parts of Charlotte and arrived at this beauty.
My first sighting of IKEA!
I was literally singing with excitement. It was the biggest thing I'd ever seen!
We entered to a huge escalator leading up above the warehouse, but just wandered, in awe, straight past it. Unbeknownst to us, IKEA is actually built in a giant double loop with a distinct, specific path that you're "supposed" to follow. We, as usual, didn't stop to read the signs (or the giant arrows on the floor.) For the rest of the day we were traveling against a mob of shoppers. Oops- lesson learned.
We saw so much awesome stuff all over the store. You will be shocked to learn that all we bought was…. pizza. Yes, you read that right. I'm actually moving in the next month and will have to put all of my stuff in storage during an awkward month of homelessness, so buying mirrors and couches wasn't exactly practical. But oh boy do I have a shopping list for my new place!
How sweet is this mirror? They're all over pinterest now, painted in fun pops of colors. This one was actually hollow plastic, so it would be very light weight.
We swooned over this dandelion lamp. Stay tuned to see how it plays a twinkly little pattern on the walls. It's made of paper and so light- how dreamy over my kitchen table!
This piece was actually labeled as a "shoe organizer", but with the drawers the fold open, we thought it would be great for a narrow entryway, with little glass dishes for keys and spare change on top!
This navy circle patterned rug was really cool – it would look neat peeking out from under a navy L shaped couch.
How adorable are these white vases- how about popping in a single bud and displaying them in a white bookshelf with a pop of color in the background? Or maybe pop them on a colorful desk to hold a pencil or two? The possibilities are endless!
This pants hanger rolled out of a closet system. How great for keeping guys organized!
I LOVE the contrast of these navy walls and the white headboard. I love how this bedroom set up had dark navy walls but still felt bright and open. Exactly what I'm going for in my guest room!
I loved these closet drawers! The clear acrylic top and narrow drawers would be perfect for small lady things.
I went ga-ga over this blue floral bedding. The pattern was so delicate yet so playful. How cozy over a super fluffy duvet.
I have been eying these magnetic spice racks all over the internet! I'd love to magnetic paint the inside of a pantry door and stick them all over the place!
This was a cool little table. One side could fold down, to make space in a small dining area, or up to accommodate four people comfortably. Very neat for a small kitchen.
We sat on every couch in IKEA! This is the one Sean deemed most acceptable, though he still prefers his broken microsuede poop green couch 🙂 It also comes in a light grey which would be better for not showing cat hair, and would look fab with bold navy pillows!
So even though we didn't buy anything, I had a major blast on my first trip to IKEA! I feel super inspired by so many new things that I saw, and I will definitely be returning on more goal-oriented trips in the future. Plus, they have an Icee machine- what more could a girl want?
Have you been window shopping lately? Spy anything fabulous?
IKEA is the best! Glad you had a great time. Makes me look forward to my next trip to my local IKEA.


This elementary art lesson plan takes about 45 minutes to complete. Safety caution: This craft involves cooking and using a hot oven and should be performed with adult supervision. This lesson builds on and reinforces prior lessons from the Eric Carle books series like understanding the phases of the moon and setting and achieving goals.
This recipe makes approximately one and one-half cups or enough for seven students. It is easily doubled and by increasing the amounts teachers incorporate a mini-lesson on adding fractions and figuring proportions into the art lesson. The children learn math skills by helping measure the ingredients, and science skills when blending them.
Teacher note: the sample recipe was made with white whole wheat flour, which is a drier flour than bleached white flour, and requires more moisture to form a smooth dough ball. If this recipe is made with bleached enriched white flour, start by adding 1/3 cup of water, and add additional water as needed.
Measure and put the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Let children take turns sifting and rubbing these ingredients with their fingers to combine.
Scrape the dough onto a piece of waxed paper which has been sprinkled with flour. Form a dough ball and knead gently, then demonstrate to the children how to knead – press down with heels of hands, fold the dough over on itself, and press down with hands. Let each child measure out two tablespoons of dough and let them practice kneading the dough.
Encourage them to pat and flatten the dough. Using moon and star-shaped cookie cutters, the kids make salt dough shapes. If the dough dries out and is hard to work with, advise the children to dip their fingers into a little water, and then sprinkle it on the dough.
Plastic knives help lift the shapes if the dough sticks to the waxed paper. Use a plastic straw to poke a hole in the top of the shapes – this is used to hold a piece of string so the shapes can be hung up. Show the children how to use a pencil to trace their initials on the back of the salt dough shape.
Place the salt dough cut-outs on baking sheets and place in an oven preheated to 200 degrees. Bake the salt dough for three hours. Baking salt dough makes it stronger, and the shapes last longer and do not become moldy.
The finished moons and stars can be decorated with markers, paint, or art materials like glitter or stickers. Help the child insert a string into the hanging hole and tie the ends into a knot. Hang the shapes in the windows or around the classroom to display the children's artwork.
By the end of this elementary art lesson plan, the children have learned to follow a recipe and make simple dough. They created hand-made moons and stars and decorated them. This multi-sensory art lesson encourages the children to express their feelings and thoughts about the reading material – Papa Please Get Me the Moon by Eric Carle.


This is not a usual newsletter entry, it will not be about a specific localization subject nor a very informative or educational one. It is more of a 'putting-my-thoughts-to-writing' piece which however are open for questioning and debate by you, the readers.
There were two instances that sparked this idea, a funny one and a rather sad one; but let me start with the funny one and see whether we will get to the sad one.
For those of you who don't know me, I have a rather strong-minded but cute 3-year-old daughter whose Christmas gift request was 'Chatty', a robot penguin. Well, Chatty has a pre-installed set of instructions which it acknowledges using voice recognition SW and acts accordingly. Chatty is a nice penguin with very funny responses and pre-recorded messages and every time we turned it on, we had a blast, but that was only as long as an adult voiced the instructions, i.e. when Chatty said 'I am hungry', we said 'Eat' and then there were a bunch of funny chewing sounds and Chatty thanking us for its delicious dinner and asking for a drink, and you can imagine how the story goes… But everything fell apart when my daughter wanted to boss it around being the one to be voicing the orders. At the age of 3, well… let's just say that she has not yet mastered the art of clear articulation, and instead of 'Stop' she uttered 'thtop' or thought that it would be nice of her to add its name in the question i.e. 'How are you, Chatty?' or be even nicer and ask politely by adding 'please' in the order. Chatty was having trouble understanding her and either said, very successfully I may add, that she did not make sense or that she had not eaten her food and she did not speak loud or clear enough. At first, she was troubled and insisted, but then she was concerned, then angry because she could not understand why being polite did not have the expected outcome in this case nor what she was saying wrong when she uttered 'thtop' instead of 'stop'. So now poor Chatty sits deactivated on the top shelf of her drawer wishing, I imagine, it could interact more or better with her, as this would be more fun. Right, Chatty…?
And you are probably wondering why I am saying all this… Well, we are in the era of Amazon deliveries with drones and instant service, we interact with machines all the more often, probably much more than we do with people, and we have a reason for doing so; it is easier, it is transactional, it is quick, so quick we have no time to actually mentally process it, and this makes it automatic. And automation is good, it saves us time, it frees our hands from the mundane and procedural tasks supposedly allowing us to deal with the more creative and challenging ones. But are we up to the task? This would require inspiration, interpersonal interaction and cooperation. How can we achieve this when we expect humans to communicate in a pre-conditioned manner and we condition both our words and our actions in order to trigger the expected outcome?
At the end of the day, when neither of the recorded options in a voice service suits our question, when our instantly generated invoice has the wrong information, when we accidentally press the wrong button and everything crashes, when we want a cafe latte with double shot of espresso, low fat milk, Stevia instead of sugar and a straw -even though it is a hot drink-, we need to talk to a person, to an actual human being. Only they can be insightful, flexible, creative and add meaning and value to our interaction, and only then can we be genuine, can we be ourselves, even if we may not utter clearly enough or even if we are more verbose or polite than what would be expected.
We are all striving for a leaner, more automated and streamlined workflow, but what if we strived for more meaningful human interactions, where every 'ping' has its equal and corresponding 'pong' instead of the same mundane stereotypical preconditioned automated 'ping', 'ping', 'ping'.
And why don't we leave the sad story for another time?


text:
World Tea News is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC
Tea Industry News and Features
Tea Business Resources
Market Trends, Data and Insights
World Tea Conference + Expo News
Global Tea Championships News
World TEA Conference + EXPO
World Tea Academy
Celestial Seasonings and HeadCount Release Limited-Edition Tea
By Press Release September 3, 2019
BOULDER, Colo., Aug. 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Back by popular demand, Grateful Dead fans can settle down easy with the release of Ramble on Rose, a limited-edition black tea blend from Celestial Seasonings in partnership with nonprofit HeadCount. For the first time ever, this exclusive blend will be available online at no cost. How's that for a miracle? Infused with notes of vanilla, strawberry and rose, Ramble on Rose Black tea will transport your taste buds to 1972, the year the song "Ramble on Rose" was brought to life for the world's listening pleasure.
Devout tea drinkers and music lovers alike can get their hands on a box by registering to vote or signing up for election alerts online through HeadCount, a nonprofit organization that promotes civic participation in democracy through music. Previously, Ramble on Rose was available exclusively through HeadCount at select concerts. Visit CelestialSeasonings.com/RambleonRose to receive a free box, while supplies last.
"We are thrilled to bring back Ramble on Rose, inspired by a song we all can sing out loud to, in the name of getting people out to vote. Musicians have a strong connection to drinking tea before a show, and Celestial Seasonings developed the perfect blend to honor our mission and connection to an iconic band," said Andy Bernstein, executive director at HeadCount.
Celestial Seasonings celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2019. Known for its tea-world staples like Red Zinger® and Sleepytime®, the brand is proud of its iconic box designs, which display their roots in music, sustainability and art. Ramble on Rose is all of that in one tea and is a collector's item in itself, as the box was designed by premier Grateful Dead poster artist A.J. Masthay.
"Creating a unique, music-inspired blend for an organization like HeadCount has been an amazing way to bring our values to life. Since our beginnings in 1969, music has been part of our brand's DNA, and we're excited to bring Ramble on Rose to the Grateful Dead's biggest fans," said Tim Collins, vice president of marketing at Celestial Seasonings.
In addition to being available online, Ramble on Rose will also be given away at the LOCKN' Festival beginning Aug. 22 at the Oak Ridge Farm in Arrington, Virginia. Jam-band fans will receive the tea when they register to vote or register for election alerts through HeadCount at the event. For fans looking for a miracle, Celestial Seasonings is giving away two four-day tickets to LOCKN' through its social channels. Follow @CelestialTea on Instagram and Facebook.com/CelestialSeasonings for a chance to win.
About Celestial Seasonings, Inc.
For nearly 50 years, Celestial Seasonings, Inc. (a subsidiary of The Hain Celestial Group, Inc., Nasdaq: HAIN) has created delicious specialty teas that add magic to every moment. The brand currently offers more than 90 flavorful varieties of herbal, green, black, wellness, rooibos and chai teas. Each blend is expertly crafted by our Blendmaster from the finest herbs, teas, spices and botanicals and is presented in packaging adorned with beautiful artwork and inspiring quotes. From calming and relaxing to refreshing and rejuvenating to everyday wellness support, there's a Celestial Seasonings® product for all the moods and moments of your day. For more information, visit celestialseasonings.com or facebook.com/CelestialSeasonings.
Hain Celestial Reports First Quarter Fiscal Year 2020 Financial Results
Colorado Tea Hut Connects Through Tea and Nature
Global Tea Championship Names Medalists in the 2019 Fall Hot Loose Leaf Tea Competition
Celestial SeasoningsColoradoTea
Sign up to receive exclusive World Tea News weekly newsletters.
BOP, OP, OF, TGFOPS…Why are tea grades important?
10 Tea Traditions Around the World
To Boil or Not to Boil…That is the Question.
A Brief History of Earl Grey
Tea Trends Flowing into 2018
Tweets by worldteamedia
About World Tea News
Offering news, features, expert insights, and industry trends for the global tea industry, World Tea News, is the premier source for in-depth understanding of the industry.
Accessibility Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Terms of Use


Bird feeding is a standout among the most mainstream approaches to appreciate untamed life. More than 55 million beyond 16 years old fed wild birds and spend more than $3 billion a year on bird nourishment, and $800 million a year on bird feeders, bird showers, bird houses and other bird feeding extras. The movement has brought forth an industry that offers supplies and gear for the bird feeding leisure activity.
Bird feeding is the main association numerous individuals have with untamed life. Contrasted with numerous different types of amusement, it can be a reasonable action. Birds are various, vivid and stimulating; they add life to an occasionally repetitive winter scene. Watching birds at a feeder is fabulous treatment for individuals restricted inside by disease, mishap or winter climate. Feeders acquire birds close where they can be watched, recognized, captured or essentially appreciated.
Most beginner and expert ornithologists feel that feeding is commonly useful to birds and individuals, however it may not generally be altogether in the birds' best advantages. Feeding decreases common rivalry among birds and can subject them to illnesses and predation. Certain species—the cardinal is a decent case—have expanded their reaches more remote and more remote north, most likely in light of the accessibility of feeders.
Contingent upon one's standpoint, such range augmentation can be seen as great or awful.
There are unquestionably good and bad approaches to draw in and nourish birds. Feeding can be hurtful in the event that it is not proceeded through the winter. The seriousness of the climate and accessibility of regular sustenance and other sustaining stations in the area decide the real potential for mischief. Feeders sullied with bird droppings and mildew covered seed can encourage sickness transmission. Before setting up a feeding station, make certain you will make a pledge to keep up a trustworthy sustenance supply all through the winter and to keep the wellbeing and security of the birds as a main priority.
Going birdwatching is an awesome approach to get out into nature, to stay in contact with the wonder and puzzle of the regular world. While you are birding you are additionally getting outside air, work out, and adapting more about the different territories you visit. Seeing the wildflowers, trees, bushes, vines, butterflies and different critters that share the birds' surroundings, helps you to acknowledge how all the living parts fit into the entire plan of things.
Following the regular developments of birds keeps you in contact with the passing seasons. The yearly cycle, the puzzles of spring and harvest time movement, birds are pre-famous harbingers of spring and fall and unpretentiously stamp the progression of time.
Birding can contribute emphatically to your sentiments of authority and self-regard. These sentiments will increment as you show signs of improvement at it. While recognizing birds is extremely troublesome before all else, as you practice and enhance your perception aptitudes and hand-to-eye coordination abilities you will begin to pick up certainty and pride in your newly discovered capacity to take various pieces of information and concoct a rapid and right I.D.
However, initially, more on why individuals love birding and why you ought to consider adding it to your developing rundown of pastimes.
Birding is a leisure activity that envelops bird watching, distinguishing proof, and frequently recording the species and area in which you discover them. To watch birds more closely, individuals use binoculars which permit you to zoom in and see the birds up near search for distinguishing highlights.
Numerous birders regularly convey with them a field guide, for example, Sibley's or Peterson's bird books that permit them to rapidly turn upward a bird and help in their recognizable proof. Guides give pictures of birds in flight and stationary alongside their regular reaches, distinguishing field marks, and other data.
Birds make up the class Aves and are characterized by their investigative name which incorporates the variety and species. Figuring out how to recognize birds can be a testing errand. Utilizing the greatest number of assets as you can will help the learning procedure. Concentrating on is an essential piece of learning birds and it will require investment and exertion.
While strolling alone, a man can bird. To make tracks in an opposite direction from the chafing swarm, it is an awesome approach. With a bigger gathering of similarly invested individuals, better half or your kids, or whatever is left of the family, it is likewise something can do by you exceptionally well.


I agree with the right hon. Lady. One of the frustrations is that we are now faced with arguments from the Government that the period of time for an extension must be really short for various reasons, yet they ran away from the vote on 10 December. We could have known on 11 December that this deal was never going to go through. We would then have had three and a half months left on the clock before we even got to any question of an extension, and then another three months, even on the Government's own analysis, to try to sort the problem out. Yet here we are, with 15 days to go, having this discussion about an extension in the worst of circumstances, and we are doing it for one reason. That is that the deal that was signed on 25 November and that could have been put to the vote on 11 December was pulled. Not one word of that agreement has ever changed. All that has happened is that we have been waiting for three-plus months to vote again on the same proposition. We cannot waste another week doing the same thing next week.


Your landscape is a living and breathing ecosystem and, just like any other facet of life, needs food and nourishment, as well as protection from its natural predators, if it is going to survive.
At Three Brothers Landscaping we have state licensed pesticide applicators on staff who can safely and knowledgably identify and correct pest, disease, or nutrient deficiency problems in your landscape. IPM is an integral part of any maintenance service in order to ensure a healthy and well-protected landscape. Proper scouting and effective, fast treatment can save you a tremendous amount of time and money down the road.
Ash trees can be a valuable part of the landscape. A properly cared for ash tree can increase property value, provide environmental benefits and reduce electricity costs by shading a home.
The Illinois Department of Agriculture and its Emerald Ash Borer Program believe systemic insecticidal treatments of ash trees, in response to or in preparation for Emerald Ash Borer infestation(s), can be a very useful component of a management plan. Insecticidal treatments can be an effective management strategy for high numbers of ash trees when integrated with the removal of known infested trees and continued monitoring of ash health, as a measure to potentially preserve and/or prolong the life of apparently yet unaffected ash trees. The department believes that by focusing treatment efforts on ash trees that are not showing signs and symptoms of EAB infestation, and which are in overall good condition, and are desirable trees to preserve, there will be a better chance of successfully preserving those trees through a treatment program. Illinois residents must consult their village public works department to determine any ordinances or policies that may be in place before committing to a treatment plan for ANY tree within the village. Additionally, residents are urged to consult with a certified arborist to assess the condition of an ash tree being considered for treatment, to ensure it is a viable candidate.
Something buggin' you? Let us help you take back your yard from invasive pests.
While invasive insects tarnish the visual appeal of your landscape, their damage is translated into tangible and intangible dollar amounts when it comes time to remove trees, replace dead and dying shrubs, or apologize to guests bothered and inundated by bugs. Let our team help you reclaim your land and control pest problems early before their destruction and nuisance takes control of you!
Spring up and stay green with a healthy diet and maintenance schedule for your turfgrass!
Early to Mid-Spring: A slow release fertilizer is applied to help awaken the lawn from its winter dormancy. Included in the fertilizer is a pre-emergent control for crabgrass and other annual grassy weeds.
Mid-Spring/Early Summer: Our second application is a combination of slow and quick-release fertilizers. Micro-nutrients are added to promote deep and healthy root growth. Our first round of post-emergent broadleaf control for dandelions and other turfgrass weeds is also applied at this time.
Late Fall: We apply a slow release fertilizer to insure sufficient nutrients assist your lawn through harsh winter climates and green up early in spring.
A regularly maintained fertilization program is an important management practice used to determine turf grass quality. Fertilizer will affect the general health of the plant. The healthier the plant is, the better the turf grass stand can compete and tolerate competing pests, like weeds, disease and insects. A high quality dense turf will naturally out-compete weeds and decrease or even eliminate the need for herbicides. Also a greater number of insects can be tolerated before an insecticide application is needed. Call us today to schedule an appointment to evaluate your lawn.
Help your little baby bushes put the bottle down and be manly thick and healthy plants!
For trees and shrubs that go untreated, the effects of certain diseases are irreversible. Many mature trees end up dying as the result of late diagnosis that could have been prevented. To help prevent disease or treat currently diseased trees and shrubs and to prevent further spreading, contact Three Brothers Landscaping today for a free consultation.


text:
Margot Robbie Will Reportedly Play Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad
Puddin!
By Lucy O'Brien
Posted: 10 Nov 2014 5:57 am
Nipping at the heels of talk that Jared Leto might be playing the Joker in David Ayer's Suicide Squad, comes a report claiming Australian actress Margot Robbie will play Harley Quinn in the film.
Collider is breaking the news, citing unnamed sources.
Robbie in The Wolf of Wall Street
Robbie's name was always in the mix, alongside Will Smith's, Tom Hardy's, and Jesse Eisenberg's, who is expected to reprise his role as Lex Luthor from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. English actress-model-singer Cara Delevingne was also reportedly considered for the Harley role.
For those unfamiliar with Robbie, she rose to attention as Naomi Lapaglia in Scorcese's Wolf of Wall Street. She is currently filming 2016's Tarzan, where she will star as Jane, and also has upcoming roles in the Will Smith-starring Focus and the 2015 sci-fi Z for Zachariah.
Writer-director David Ayer has described Suicide Squad as "The Dirty Dozen with supervillains."
Lucy O'Brien is Entertainment Editor at IGN AU. Follow her ramblings on Twitter.
Suicide Squad [2016]
DeveloperN/A
Release DateAugust 5, 2016
Platformstheater, on-demand, blu-ray
Marvel, Mattel Reveal Mystique, Storm, and Dark Phoenix Barbie Dolls


text:
The 9 UK hotel openings to know about in 2021
Add these to your 2021 travel list
By Fiona Kerr
Tuesday 8 December 2020
While 2021 will bring with it the return of international travel on a more normal scale, 2020 has shown Brits that holidaying on home turf should be just as sought after as far-flung getaways. We've rediscovered some of the best places to visit in the UK from sweeping beaches, misty mountains to buzzy cities, and 2021 will only see more of us than ever enjoying all that the UK has to offer. Plus, a clutch of new hotels are set to open from Edinburgh to Sussex via London, Oxford, Wales and more.
These are the cleverest addresses to know in 2021 – or check out the all-time best hotels in the UK, according to readers, and scroll to the bottom of this article to find out about two exciting hotel reopenings for 2021, too.
The Albion, Aberteifi, Wales
Opening February 2021
Cult campsite Fforest in West Wales has redefined the family camping holiday since it opened in 2007, with traditional Welsh crog lofts and wood-fired pizzas, its own tiny stone pub – the smallest in Wales – and a wooden cedar-barrel sauna. Now, for those not hardy enough even to glamp in a Japanese onsen dome (with wood burner and futon bed), it is opening a 23-room hotel on the banks of the River Teifi. The hotel, set in two former warehouses, lands between Fforest's two campsites, one on a 200-acre farm bordering a nature reserve, and the other, smaller, location overlooking Penbryn Beach. Design will draw on the town's maritime history (the Albion ship took a group of emigrants to New Brunswick in 1819) preserving some 19th-century graffiti of tall ships on the lime-washed walls of the third floor. Ship-shape and very special.
The Double Red Duke, Clanfield, near Oxford
As The Lucky Onion, Sam and Georgie Pearson created some of the Cotswolds' most in-demand spots, including The Wheatsheaf Inn. They sold out to Superdry founder Julian Dunkerton in 2017 and are now gathering a new brood of inns under the banner of Country Creatures. This spring they add The Double Red Duke in the tiny village of Clanfield, west of Oxford, by repurposing a honey-stoned former coaching inn. The couple are working with sustainable British brands and makers on the renovation, which includes deep iso-enamel tubs from The Albion Bath Co in Essex and designs from Wiltshire fabric producers Fermoie. Downstairs, Hawksmoor and Pitt Cue Co veterans Richard E Turner and Richard Sandiford will be firing up the open grill for a meaty menu of charcoal-grilled tomahawk steaks and oyster and bone-marrow gravy. A perfectly pitched pub for a countryside-stomping spring escape.
NoMad London
This is possibly the most exciting hotel opening in London since The Ned. No surprise, then, that it's from the same hit hotel-makers, Sydell Group, although without Soho House's helping hand this time. The original NoMad in New York (there are now two more in Los Angeles and Las Vegas) is one of the city's moodiest, slickest stays and here transplants its cultivated cool to the former Bow Street Magistrates' Court and Police Station in Covent Garden. Taken on by designers Roman and Williams, the brief explores the artistic and cultural synergy between London and New York, with more than 1,600 works of art on show. Pub-like Side Hustle will turn out Mexican sharing plates and agave-based drinks, in place of the usual pork-scratchings and pints, while Common Decency shares serious cocktails. After our long enforced hibernation, this is the hottest ticket in town this spring.
The Star Alfriston, South Downs
Opening spring 2021
Alex Polizzi has hotels in her blood. Her uncle Sir Rocco Forte is the patriarch of the Rocco Forte Hotels group, while mother Olga already has two much-loved British beachside mainstays, Hotel Endsleigh and Hotel Tresanton (while Alex is perhaps most famous as TV's Hotel Inspector). Most recently, Alex and her mother have bought back The Star Inn in the medieval village of Alfriston on the South Downs Way, which once belonged to Alex's grandfather. Now they are slicking over black paint and pulling down Sixties additions to reveal its beautiful bones once more.
The Graduate Oxford and Cambridge
Another transatlantic import. When Ben Weprin and his team launched The Graduate hotels in 2014 they cleverly planned much-needed stylish digs for parents and returning alumni in college towns including Tucson (University of Arizona) and Ann Arbor (University of Michigan), where design riffs hard on college-days nostalgia, with room keys featuring famous alumni and bedrooms decorated with campus memorabilia. On British shores they matriculate in the country's two most highbrow university towns at the same time: Oxford (taking over the old Randolph Hotel) and on the banks of the river Cam in Cambridge, promising to go heavy on the two institutions' illustrious histories – mortar boards and rowing oars practically guaranteed.
The Farmyard at The Newt, Somerset
Opening summer 2021
Hands-down hit The Newt in Somerset is now adding a more low key spin-off called The Farmyard in a quiet corner of the productive estate, northern-hemisphere sister to Babylonstoren in South Africa. The 17 rooms spread between a former farmhouse, cider mill, apple loft and cheese barns will have a more rustic vibe, with traditional flagstone floors and aged oak beams, compared to the Georgian grandeur of Hadspen House. But the star of the show is still the meticulous gardens themselves and the produce from them, which is showcased on The Farmyard's own farm-to-table menu as well as in the faultless main restaurant. This country-house sensation continues to shine bright.
The Pig in the South Downs, West Sussex
Robin Hutson's litter of Pigs has become the blueprint for unstuffy foodie-centric country boltholes, and he has gathered a laid-back band of locavore followers who have stalked openings from the New Forest original to the Cornish latest. The next outpost – the seventh – hunkers down in the South Downs National Park, in the pretty hamlet of Madehurst, near Arundel, in the creamy Georgian stone house of Madehurst Lodge. Bedrooms tucked in wagons and former stable blocks, as well as the locally supplied menu (with all ingredients sourced within a 25-mile radius) and kitchen garden are present and correct, of course, here skewing to fishy catches from nearby Rustington and Eastbourne. What's new is The Pig's first vineyard: 4,000 vines of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier planted in a two-acre field that until recently was used for grazing alpacas; expect the first harvest in 2022. A fine new vintage from one of our firm favourites.
Beaverbrook Townhouse, London
London is having a renewed love affair with the townhouse hotel, with a score of more intimate offerings on the cards – including Henry's Townhouse and The Mayfair Townhouse opening in December and Martin Brudnizki-designed The Broadwick landing in Soho in this coming September. Next summer too, Beaverbrook expands from its stately Surrey Hills base to two Georgian townhouses on Sloane Street. The 14 suites – designed by print-loving previous collaborator Nicola Harding – will be named after London theatres. The curtain will also go up downstairs on a Japanese restaurant with interiors inspired by artist Hokusai, best known for his The Great Wave. A fresh act for Chelsea.
Gleneagles Townhouse, Edinburgh
Opening autumn 2021
The grandee of the Scottish countryside Gleneagles has seen a spirited shake-up in recent years thanks to its forward-thinking new owners, Ennismore (of The Hoxton fame). Now they've landed their latest hotel chip on St Andrew Square in Edinburgh's New Town for a 33-bedroom bolthole and members' club, with a roof terrace (wisely glazed against the east-coast chill) behind the former Bank of Scotland HQ's famous statues. The perfect pitstop en route to Perthshire.
Exciting hotel reopenings in 2021
The Carlton Tower Jumeirah
It's not just shiny new openings on our radar. Firm classics are getting a top-to-toe refresh for 2021 as well. In London, The Carlton Tower Jumeirah in Knightsbridge emerges from £100m renovations which began in September 2019. The Carlton Tower 2.0 has fewer but larger rooms (186 down from 274 rooms and suites) as well as 'cake o'clock' afternoon tea served late into the evening and a glass-ceiling 20m swimming pool.
Meanwhile up in Scotland, Cameron House, the much-loved tartan-clad baronial pile overlooking Loch Lomond, is set to re-open in April after restorations following a devastating fire there in December 2017. Plans include a new extension of bedrooms with large loch-facing balconies and incoming executive chef Zoltan Szabo previously of Glasgow's Blythswood Square and Grand Central hotels.
The best holiday cottages in the UK
43 of the best holiday cottages in the UK
10 of the UK's best B&Bs
The best hotels in the UK | Readers Choice Awards 2020
The best hotels in the UK 2020
The hotel openings to know about in 2020
Are UK hotels open? The latest lockdown rules
The Greek island hotel you need to know about for 2021
In partnership with F Zeen
The Japanese trends to know about in 2020